Cheney visits troops in Iraq for Thanksgiving-Iraq TV

BAGHDAD, Nov 23 (Reuters) US Vice President Dick Cheney flew into Baghdad today for a previously unannounced visit to celebrate the US Thanksgiving holiday with US troops, Iraqi state television said.

The US embassy could not immediately confirm the report.

Cheney is seen as a key architect of the US invasion of Iraq, along with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who resigned after Republicans were defeated in mid-term Congressional elections this month.

Cheney's office said yesterday the vice president would travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday for talks with King Abdullah. The meeting comes as the White House weighs a shift in strategy on Iraq.

REUTERS AKJ KN1419